As we begin to wrap up another year and welcome 2012, there are some important vehicle and motorcycle recalls that will be popping up that drivers should be aware of. Subaru, Honda, and Nissan will all be announcing recalls before or just after the New Year.

Honda's recall will involve 126.000 GL-1800 motorcycle from 2001 to 2012 models. The reason for the recall, “a problem with a secondary brake master cylinder can cause the rear break to drag, potentially causing a crash or fire,” (Subaru, Honda, recall vehicles due to brake issues, The Associated Press, CBS News

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505245_162-57336702/subaru-honda-recall-vehicles-due-to-brake-issues/

). Honda submitted documentation to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and in the documents included the report of 26 complaints, of which two involved fires.  Look for this recall in early January.

The Subaru recall will include about 32,000 Legacy, Outback, Impreza 2012 models. The issue with these being that there is a defect in the brake master cylinder, which has the potential to cause the brake pedal to travel further than expected, (Subaru, Honda, recall vehicles due to brake issues, The Associated Press, CBS News). Although luckily no accidents have been reported, Subaru has a reported 112 complaints in regards to the defect from their dealerships. Another plus, “only about 3,000 of the cars were sold, and the rest are either on dealer lots or en route to dealers. They will be fixed before being sold,” (Subaru, Honda, recall vehicles due to brake issues, The Associated Press, CBS News). This recall will begin later this month.

In both in of these recalls owners of these models will be instructed to bring in their vehicle to a dealership for inspection, and if the defective is present, replacement parts will be available.

The Nissan recall involves more than 7,000 of the Rogue crossover from 2011. The reason for this recall; an issue with the potential failure of the electric power steering. Nissan filed documents with the NHTSA that indicated that “as the circuit board fails, the power steering assist features will stop functioning, increasing the force needed to steer the vehicle and increasing the risk of a crash,” (Subaru, Honda, recall vehicles due to brake issues, The Associated Press, CBS News). Thankfully, no accidents have been reported due to this defective however.

Drive a hybrid? Or recently been on the fence about buying one? Then a recent study may spark your interest. The Highway Loss Data (HLDI) found that drivers of hybrids are 25 percent less likely to acquire injuries when in an accident than the average car and truck.

The reason? The data obtained from the HLDI study accounts it to weight. The battery packs and other components make these fuel efficient vehicles 10 percent heavier than the average car.

The author of the report and vice president of the nonprofit research organization Matt Moore, concludes it is this "extra mass that gives them an advantage in crashes that their conventional twins don't have," (HLDI Study Shows Positive Safety Trend for Hybrid Vehicles, John Pirro, Online Auto Insurance,

http://news.onlineautoinsurance.com/consumer/hybrid-vehicle-crash-car-insurance-study-95564).

It all comes down to the calculation of force. In a collision between two different vehicles; the heavier, larger car will push the lighter upon impact. This means "less force on people in the heavier vehicle and more on the people in the lighter one. Greater force means greater risk, so people in the smaller, lighter vehicle are more likely to be injured,"(HLDI Study Shows Positive Safety Trend for Hybrid Vehicles, John Pirro, Online Auto Insurance).

To give you an idea of the difference in weight, one example from the study found that the hybrid Honda Accord midsize sedan weighs in at about 3,600 pounds, that's 480 pounds more than the conventional Accord model.

So what does this mean for hybrid owners and potential buyers? In years past eco-conscious drivers had to for-go safety for fuel economy, but after this study it appears that may no longer be the case, as Moore says "saving at the pump no longer means you have to skimp on crash protection," (HLDI Study Shows Positive Safety Trend for Hybrid Vehicles, John Pirro, Online Auto Insurance).

It is unclear if this will have an effect on hybrid owner's insurance policies. This specific study looked at the first-party coverage only, which is the policyholder's and their potential passengers in the event of an accident. If there were to be any reduction in insurance costs it would be limited to those coverages, the policyholder's own, (HLDI Study Shows Positive Safety Trend for Hybrid Vehicles, John Pirro, Online Auto Insurance). Although this study may attract the attention of insurers, it is fairly standard that rates are adjusted and calculated based on the insurance company's own internal data.

According to a recent report from the AAA auto club, the average cost per fatal auto accident in the U.S. is $6 million.

The report compared drivers' costs while in traffic congestion within 99 different urban settings to that of the cost of the nation's motor vehicle accidents, and the outcome was that the cost of collisions was three times that of congestion at $299.5 billion to $99.7 billion, (AAA: Fatal motor vehicle crash cost $6 million, Larry Copeland, USA Today,

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2011-11-02/fatal-vehicle-crashes-cost-millions/51051030/1). Within that $99.7 billion due to congestion is the cost of gas used while idle plus the amount of time the driver wastes sitting in traffic. These two estimated amounts come from the Federal Highway Administration statistics which place dollar value on these factors: "property damage, lost earnings, loss of household activities, medical costs, emergency services, travel delays, vocational rehabilitation, lost time at work, administrative costs, legal costs, pain and suffering, and lost quality of life," (Larry Copeland, USA Today).

The director of federal relations for AAA Chris Plaushin, states that the auto club "wanted to raise the profile and raise the awareness. Right now, it's jobs, it's construction, it's economic growth that are being talked about. This part of our effort is to bang the drum about safety," (AAA: Fatal motor vehicle crash cost $6 million, Larry Copeland, USA Today). Although it may be common knowledge that auto collisions are costly, when looking at it from a national perspective rather than an individual one, the costs and rates become alarming. That's why Plaushin hopes that studies such as this most recent one will help bring attention to the matter and hopefully result in solutions that potentially could prevent such costs and accidents.

Beyond the cost of this matter, another need for attention is that auto accidents are the leading cause of death for those ages 5-24 in the US. Saving money, but more importantly saving lives will hopefully be the outcome from this study. Suggestions from the AAA to reduce fatal crashes and financial burden due to auto accidents are installing more cable barriers along medians to prevent crossover accidents, modernized roundabouts and rumble strips, (Larry Copeland, USA Today).

Do you own a Mini Cooper model S 2007 or 2008? If so, there has been a recent investigation you should know about. This Mini Cooper model has had reports of catching on fire, in some cases even when the car is not running.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration received a dozen complaints of engine compartments starting on fire in the 2007 and 2008 S models of the Mini Cooper Clubman and Cooper Convertible, (NHTSA Investigation Reports of Mini Cooper Vehicle Fires, Gregor McGavin, Online Auto Insurance,

http://news.onlineautoinsurance.com/consumer/nhtsa-safety-investigation-car-insurance-95318). Of those twelve reported five of the vehicles were completely destroyed, and eight of the complainants claimed the fire occurred even though the ignition was off.

This same model of vehicle, but manufactured from November 2006 to July 2008, was recalled in April. About 28,500 cars were recalled due to 50 reports of owners being burned by the exhaust pipes because they came out too far from the bumper. Of these reports there were several significant second-degree burns that caused blistering and scarring, one even resulted in a third-degree burn, (Office of Defects Investigations of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration).

The clear concern here is that the owners of these vehicles could potentially become injured as a result of this defect. However; another issue is that owners could have difficulty with their insurance coverage. It is unlikely that motorists would be "found financially liable for damages that are proved to have been caused by defective automotive equipment, they could still face the sometimes lengthy process of seeking reimbursement under their automobile insurance coverage policy," (NHTSA Investigation Reports of Mini Cooper Vehicle Fires, Gregor McGavin, Online Auto Insurance,

http://news.onlineautoinsurance.com/consumer/nhtsa-safety-investigation-car-insurance-95318).

Luckily, no injuries have resulted of the dozen recently reported engine fires. However; the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has yet to determine if a recall is necessary. If that does end up being the outcome, 36,000 Mini Cooper S models will be affected.

Today it is not uncommon to hear someone say "I'll tweet you," "Facebook me," or "Add me on Google Plus," so perhaps it should come as no surprise that your insurance company wants to connect with you on those very same social medias.

A recent study conducted by Boston-based research and advisory firm, Celent, showed that within the next three years it will become common practice for insurers to use information found on such social medias as Twitter, Facebook, etc. to reveal risk, much like how auto insurers in some state look at credit history, (Report: Insurers to Make Greater Use of Policyholders' Social Data, Online Auto Insurance, Gregor McGavin, http://news.onlineautoinsurance.com/companies/social-media-and-car-insurance-95305).

This type of search has already begun somewhat in case of questionable claims. One such example "is when an individual claimed a ‘debilitating, work-related injury.' But when the investigator checked out the claimant's social media profile, there were photos of the individual performing activities like breakdancing," (Report: Insurers to Make Greater Use of Policyholders' Social Data). Mike Fitzgerald, a senior analyst with Celent's insurance group and co-author of the report believes that "the information that is posted by individuals on multiple sites reflects their preferences, lifestyles, and habits." Clearly with regards to the breakdancer with a bad back, insurers could potentially have the ability to eliminate false claims.

What would be the underlining use for the information gathered on policyholders? To determine "grounds of deniability, identify sources of income, collect ‘additional evident in litigation' and discover information the claimant has hidden from the insurer," (Report: Insurers to Make Greater Use of Policyholders' Social Data). Of course with this come some legal and ethical issues. Several employers already utilize social medias to determine a qualified applicant. Insurers have brainstormed to come up with a few ideas to encourage policyholders to allow access to their social profiles, "one methods is possibly offering discounts to policyholders who do so, including those who are checking car insurance quotes online in search the best deals," (Report: Insurers to Make Greater Use of Policyholders' Social Data).

Social medias however tend to attract a specific age demographic, with 77 percent being between the ages of 18-29, 55 percent between the ages of 30-49 and only 23 percent 50 and older. So with these statistics, it appears that insurers will potentially have an easier time collecting data on their younger policyholders.

With new technologies it is necessary for companies to adapt their companies as advances are made as to not get left behind. Celent believes this as "the use of data in other processes is a natural evolution for insurers' engagement with customers. Insurers already improve customer experience by leveraging third-party data and, over time, social date will be added into the mix," (Report: Insurers to Make Greater Use of Policyholders' Social Data). A social profile can tell you a lot about a person depending on how much one shares, it's no wonder that insurance companies wouldn't mind collecting that data on a larger scale to take a peek in their policyholders' lifestyles to see how they really live, and not rely solely what's put on paper.

As another school year starts, more teens will pull up to school in their first car or sign up for driver's training. Driving schools are a great method for teaching teens, but it also starts at home. Besides the always stated “no texting while driving, no speeding, focus on the road, etc.” there are other aspects of driving that parents should be informing their teens about before they go out on the road.

Yes, speeding is one of them. Speeding can be a problem with many drivers, not just teens. With texting while driving and drinking while driving are concerns, it's actually speeding that causes the most one-car fatal accidents. In fact “All State Insurance estimates that 40% of the 5,000 to 6,000 teen deaths a year are caused by speeding” (Teen Drivers Making Common and Fatal Mistakes, Sharon Silke Carty, http://autos.aol.com/article/teen-drivers-making-common-and-fatal-mistakes/). Talk with your teen about speed limits, they're there for a reason: to secure their own and others' safety.

Another common cause of teen accidents, they didn't see it coming. There's an obstacle in the road and by either not allowing enough to stop or swerving a driver can potentially cause an accident. You may have received different advice, but “some professional driving instructors say that drivers shouldn't swerve when animals enter the road. They should brake hard, and keep in their lane. The dangers of swerving to avoid an animal too often result in dangerous accidents,” (Teen Drivers Making Common and Fatal Mistakes, Sharon Silke Carty, http://autos.aol.com/article/teen-drivers-making-common-and-fatal-mistakes/).

Another concern is in the event of losing control, looking where they shouldn't. Focusing on the light pole, tree or divider a driver is approaching will potentially cause him/her to go in that direction causing an accident. Being aware of what is happening when out of control of the vehicle is important, but focusing on the object they may come in contact with could end up being fatal. According to the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS), “the number of the fatal single-vehicle accidents involving teens is 50%”. Attempting to stay calm as possible and knowing when/where to swerve will help prevent your teen from having a one-car accident.
 

Lastly, even though it may seem like it shouldn't need to be said anymore; wearing a seat belt. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration 76% of teens regularly wear a seatbelt. However; 58% of teens who die in car accidents in 2006 (most current year numbers are available) were not wearing seatbelts. Always wearing a seatbelt will help protect your teen from fatal injuries in the result of an accident.

New drivers are not bad drivers; they simply need experience and guidance. Talking with your teen about safety and monitoring their driving habits will allow you to feel comfortable with your child out on the road and protect him/her from serious dangers.
 

In today's economy saving money is everyone's number one priority, so when it's time to purchase a new car it comes as no surprise that many are buying used rather than driving a new one off the lot. There are great deals on used cars today, but it's important to ask yourself some questions before signing on that dotted line.
 

First thing, why buy used? Besides potentially getting a better deal; as a car only a year old is 20-30 percent cheaper than new, you'll also save money on your car insurance. With so many buyers looking at used, dealers offer more reliable cars; some even still under the factory warranty and several carmakers are offering certified used. Since safety is a major concern for used car shoppers, knowing the vehicle's history is crucial, but that's no problem as it can be easily traced using the car's vehicle identification number or VIN, (10 Steps to Buying a Used Car, Philip Reed, http://www.edmunds.com/car-buying/10-steps-to-buying-a-used-car-pg10.html).

Just because you've decided to buy used does not mean that it's not going to cost you a pretty penny. It's important to make sure that the car will fit into your budget by calculating the monthly payment, how much you'll put down at signing, and how much your car insurance will be. Having an idea of what class of car you're looking for will help you stay in your budget, but also find a car you will enjoy. You can also use Edmund's ‘affordable calculator' to estimate your payment and find models in your area that will fit your budget http://www.edmunds.com/calculators/.

Once you've calculated how much you're willing to spend, the next step is deciding how you want to finance. There are three methods of payment; cash, financing through a bank, credit union or online lender, or through the dealership. If you choose an independent source there are some advantages; “it keeps negotiations simple in the dealership, allows you to shop competitive interest rates ahead of time, removes dependency on dealership financing, and encourages you to stick to your budgeted amount,” (http://www.edmunds.com/car-buying/10-steps-to-buying-a-used-car-pg10.html).

Once you have financing underway; search around to determine where to purchase. Looking at used cars through private parties, used car section of new car dealerships and independent used car lots gives you a larger variety to choose from. If you decide to go with a private party be sure to called ahead of time and ask questions to eliminate cars with major issues prior to seeing the car.  Using this check list during your phone conversation will help you weed through the lemons http://static.ed.edmunds-media.com/unversioned/img/car-buying/used-car-worksheet/used.car.questionairre.pdf.

If you go the route of a dealership; make sure you're comfortable with the salesperson working with you, and have no distractions. You don't want to make a bad deal because you skipped out on lunch or that second cup of coffee.

Here comes the fun part; test drive! You're not going to know if the car is the right fit until you've taken it for a spin. If you are not that knowledgeable on automobiles be sure to bring someone along with you who is. Check these features while on your test drive:
• Acceleration from a stop
• Visibility (check for blind spots)
• Engine noise
• Passing acceleration (does it downshift quickly and smoothly?)
• Hill-climbing power
• Braking
• Cornering
• Suspension (how does it ride?)
• Rattles and squeaks
• Cargo space
(http://static.ed.edmunds-media.com/unversioned/img/car-buying/used-car-worksheet/used.car.questionairre.pdf)

Love the car? Great! Read over all of the agreement and make sure you understand everything before signing. Once you've done that, nothing left to do but enjoy your new car and pat yourself on the back for being a smart used car shopper!
 

Being that our firm handles both auto and motorcycle accident cases, we understand the importance of safety no matter what mode of transportation you choose. That safety extends to passengers as well, including the younger ones. Simply strapping your child in a car seat does not guarantee safety. Knowing these important facts can help you better protect your child in the event of an accident.

Child safety seats for infants are required by law in all 50 states and 47 states require booster seats for children who have outgrown his/her safety seat but are still not grown enough for an adult seat belt. It is important to know the laws regarding safety seats in your state, for more information visit http://www.ghsa.org/html/stateinfo/laws/childsafety_laws.html.

When it comes to your child's safety, nothing is more important. So when it's time to purchase a car seat, keep these factors in mind:

• Select a car seat based on your child's age and size, choose a seat that fits in your vehicle and use it every time.

•  Always refer to your specific car seat manufacturer's instructions; read the vehicle owner's manual on how to install the car seat using the seat belt or LATCH system; and check height and weight limits.

• To maximize safety, keep your child in the car seat for as long as possible, as long as the child fits within the manufacturer's height and weight requirements.

• Keep your child in the back seat at least through age 12.

• Children under 1 should always ride in a rear-facing car seat.

• Keep your child rear-facing as long as possible. It's the best way to keep him or her safe, until they outgrow the seat by height and weight limitations.

• Keep your child in a forward-facing car seat with a harness until he or she reaches the height and weight limitation, usually ages 4-7.

• After your child outgrows the forward-facing seat, he or she should be in a booster seat from age 8-12 and still ride in the back seat.

• Once your child outgrows the booster seat, it is safe for him or her to wear an adult seat belt. Make sure that the lap belt lies snugly across the upper thighs, not the stomach and the shoulder belt should lie snug across the shoulder and chest, not across the neck or face.
(http://www.nhtsa.gov/Safety/CPS, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration-Child Safety)

The different types of carseats are listed below, remember to know the height and weight limitations as listed by manufacturers so you know when to upgrade to the next seat for your child's safety.

Rear-Facing Car Seat: is the best for a young child. It has a harness and in a crash, cradles and moves with your child reducing stress to the child's fragile neck and spinal cord.

Forward-Facing Car Seat: has a harness and tether that limits your child's forward movement during a crash.

Booster Seat: positions the seat belt so that it fits properly over the stronger parts of your child's body.
(http://www.nhtsa.gov/Safety/CPS, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration-Child Safety)

If you would like more information on child safety seats, mark your calendar for Child Passenger Safety Week from September 18-24, 2011. This is an annual campaign that creates awareness on how to properly secure children of all ages in the appropriate car seats, booster seats and seat belts. The ending day September 24 is National Check Saturday, where certified passenger safety technicians give advice and hands-on car seat inspections nationwide for free. For more information visit http://www.nhtsa.gov/Safety/CPS.

Even with new models and advancing technology each year from automakers, it's still important to ask; are you buying a safe car? First things first; do your research online.
 

All makes and models go through safety testing with “testing dummies” to see the success of safety features. In both “frontal and side impact tests, the dummies are instrumented and measurements recorded to gauge the forces to the dummy's head, neck, chest, and femurs,” (How to Buy a Safe Vehicle, Larry Coben, thesafereport.com).  Both the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) provide comparison ratings for frontal and side impact tests as well as roof strength to weight ratio. These sites often rate on a star scale, five stars being the highest and safest, one being the lowest and least safe.  Regarding frontal crash protection the government established a head injury criteria (HIC) stating that any score above 1000 is unacceptable at 30mph into a wall, in regards to this testing, lower is safer.  Beyond front and side impact tests, roof strength to weight is vital considering that 25% of all fatal and catastrophic injuries are rollover accidents. In this instance the higher the ratio the stronger the roof, for more info on this visit www.iihs.org/ratings/roof.

Beyond testing scores, there are some safety features that should always  be at the top of the list: seat belts that go over the lap AND shoulder, seat belts built into the seats and/or with belt retractors, laminated door glass, rollover and side airbags, and adjustable headrests, (How to Buy a Safe Vehicle, Larry Coben,  thesafetyreport.com). When it comes time to actual purchase your new car make sure to have an onsite inspection, gauge the comfort and fit of seat belt, check that each seat has a head rest, and if available a camera monitor behind the vehicle which provides drivers with more visibility when backing up.
 

One ultimate safety feature that will be required in all make and models in 2012 is the Electronic Stability Control (ESC). ESC is “a computer technology that helps drivers control their vehicles; used in the steering wheel to determine what the driver is trying to do and using other sensors to determine whether the vehicle is turning the way the driver wants it to turn,” (ESC: An Essential Safety Choice, Michael Cowen, thesafetyreport.com).  What does it prevent? A driver from losing control and running off the road, prevents loss of control when getting back on the road and maintains control in wet and icy conditions. How does it do it? In the event of a vehicle about to skid, “the computer system estimates the direction of the skid, and then applies the brakes to individual wheels to stop the skid and make the vehicle travel in the direction the driver intended,” (ESC: An Essential Safety Choice, Michael Cowen, thesafetyreport.com).  The system works great so says several studies, ESC will save more lives than any other safety technology other than the seat belt. The NHTSA estimates that ESC would save between 5,000 and 10,000 lives and would prevent up to 250,000 injuries a year. Studies conducted by the federal government found that ESC prevents 88% of rollover accidents in both trucks and SUVs. However, ESC has remained a luxury feature until recently in 2008, and still not all makes and models are installed with the system. Also, each automaker uses different terminology when listing ESC in their features, making it a bit more difficult for consumers to recognize when purchasing a new vehicle (See list of other names for ESC below). ESC will be equipped in all U.S. models sold as due to the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 126 as enacted by the federal government, happening in 2012. For more information on car safety and test ratings visit www.IIHS.org and www.NHTSA.org.
 

Other names for Electronic Stability Control (ESC):
• Electronic Stability Program (ESP)
• StabiliTrak
• Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA)
• Vehicle Stability Control (VSC)
• Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC)
• Dynamic Stability Control (DSC)
• Advance Trac with Roll Stability Control